Gas supply control system



June 2, 1953 c, MaosPoRRAN ETAL 2,640,769

GAs SUPPLY CONTROL SYSTEM l Filed May 11, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 1 02 INVENToR. Charles Maopo r'rnn Affgs'.

June 2, 1953 f c. MaosPoRRAN Er A1.

GAS SUPPLY CONTROL SYSTEM sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 11, 1948 Y /MMNM Illll- INVENToR. Charles MacSpar'mn BY @La @J/ Patented June 2, 1953 GAS SUPPLY CONTROL SYSTEM Charles .Macsporram Bartlesville, Okla., assgnor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application May 11, 1ll48, Serial No. 26,273

This invention comprises an automatic system for supplementing the supply of gasto a `gas.' holder such as used in a city gas supply system.

Where the economics of the situation so dictated it has been found practical to provide a supplementary or stand-by source of gas from which supplementary gas is introduced into thefgas supply systemv for the purpose of accommodating intermittent heavy or peak loads and thereby avoiding the necessity of permanently increasing the gas supply gas capacity of the system. The: usual practice is to introduce a light hydrocarbon gas such as butane or propane from stand-by storage tanks directly into the gas holder or gas mains of the system. As the B. t.y u. value 'of the supplementary gas used is considerably higher than that of manufactured gas, it is' also the usual practice to dilute the butane or propane with air, preferably at the time of itsv delivery into the gas holder or mains.

' This mixture of supplementary gas andair and its' introduction into the holder or mainV is commonly eiiected by the use of inspirators which as is well understood draw' air into the system and admix it with the supplementary 'gas atv the timeoi itsdelivery tliereinto.

This invention is concerned with a no-vel and relatively simple mechanical assemblage for effecting such operations.

A broad object of the invention is to provide an automatically operating on and oil control system for' supplying air-diluted natural gas to the-gas holder or mains of a city gas system, actuated byr the movement of the gas holders. Another object of this invention isto provide in lsuch a supplementary gas supply system a control valve therefor actuated by and in accordance with. movements of the gas holder:

As this system is not limited to the delivery o-f supplementarygas to a supply system, it is a broad objectiof this invention to provide a gas supply control system for delivering all of' the gasto a gas distribution system includ-ing its gasholders..

Other and more detailed objects of the inven-v tion will be apparent from the following descrip`A tion of. the embodiment thereof disclosed inthe attached drawings. l

Thisinvention resides in the combination,` construction, arrangement and relative location'of par-ts, all as will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings- I Figure l is a diagrammatic and schematic ele vatonal view of a system in accordance with this invention showingsome parts broken away;

11 Claims. (01. 1S-190) Figure' 2v isa detailed somewhat diagrammatic View illustrating 'in part the mechanism for actu ating'the control valve for the system; and l Figure 3 is a vertical central cross sectional view through the control valve.

The gas holder which is sometimes called'a gasometer as diagrammatically illustrated consists of a. surrounding, supporting and guiding framework 3 for the holder sections which, as illustrated; consist of a xed base section I and a 'vertical movable top section 2. As is well known, gasometers of this type are constructed to permit the relative vertical movement of one or more upper sections with respect to a bottom lined section by means of which the capacity of the holder increases and decreases as the movable sections move upwardly and downwardly in accordance with the supply of gas thereto and'withdrawalv of gas therefrom. The top section 2 is diagrammatically illustrated as having mounted thereona bracket 4 having a radially extending portion, a vertical portion and an inwardly extending radial terminal end 5. As will be apparent from the nature of the invention various structures equivalent thereto may be employed.

The end. 5 is provided with an aperture in which a tubular member 6 may slide vertically which member is preferably made of a steel or other material so that it can be made heavy enough for thepurpose to be described. The tube 6y is provided with a pair of radial pins 'I which serveto limit the .downward movementy of the tube in the aperture ofthe end 5 of the bracket permitting free vertical movement thereabove. Ro-

tatably mounted on lany suitable support such as the column of the framework .3 is a shaft or pulley 8 around which passes a rod or cable I2, the terminal ends of which are attached to a lever l@ which is pivotally mounted at Il so that the cable is attached on opposite sides of the pivot point. The pivot I l is part of a structure 9, the details of which form no part of this invention; but which structure is mounted on the column of the framework 3 and is arranged to permit the cable I2 to give sulliciently so as to prevent breakage thereof when the upper section or sections of the gasometer sway with the wind. The detailsk of such a structure are describedin the copending application of Charles MacSporran and Owen L. Garretson, led June 25, 1948, Serial No. 351,116,` for Automatic On and Oil Control System for'Gas Plants.

As shown in Figure 2 more clearly one end of the lever I 0' is provided with asegmental gear I0 and at the other end with a longitudi nally adjustable counterweight I5. Attached to the cable I2 are a pair of cable actuators I3 and I4 which, for example, may, as illustrated, consist'l of collars threaded on the cable and secured thereto in any suitable manner as by means of set screws, not shown, so that their longitudinal position on the cable and the spacing therebetween can be adjusted as position requires.

In Figure 1 there is diagrammatically illustrated at I6 the control valve which is shown in greater detail in Figure 3. This control valve consists of a suitable housing 3I of cylindrical cross section in the form shown closed at one end by a sealing disc 32 which has a central bearing hub 33 integral therewith. The other end of the housing is closed by another sealing disc 34 which likewise has a central bearing hub 35. The parts 3I, 32 and 34 are secured together in any suitable manner so as to form a fluid tight housing which is rotatable on the hubs 33 and 35. This housing may be journalled in any suitable support as, for example, the girders which form the column 3 which are provided with bearing journals for the hubs 33 and 35 as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3. Keyed to the hub 33 isv a pinion 26 which as illustrated in Figure 2 meshes with the teeth of the segmental gear I. The plate 32 and hub 33 are provided with a pair of passages 3B and 39, the former of which opens directly into the chamber 36 formed by the housing and in which a gravity actuated valve member 31 is slidably mounted.

This valve member consists of a core having a longitudinally fluted periphery or wings so that fluids may be passed therearound. The ends of the solid portion of the valve member 31 may be provided with seating discs of any suitable material, suitable to form a fluid tight seal with the aligned seats on the housing 3I. Passage 39 communicates with one of these seats by means of extensions thereof formed in the housing 3|. The plate 34 and hub 35 are provided with a passage 40 which likewise communicates with a passage in the housing 3I which terminates at the other seat.

A section of the gas supply main is diagrammatically illustrated at I'I and opens at one end into the gasometer and extends in the other direction to the gas works and also of course provides the conduit through which the various branch mains and building branches extend to the points of use of the gas. At I8 is diagrammatically illustrated the pipe or conduit which extends to the auxiliary or supplementary gas holder or holders, not shown. The line I8 connects to the input side of an inspirator 20, the output of which is connected to the gas main I'I. Included in the line I8 is a motor actuated valve I9 which may take the `form diagrammatically illustrated of a valve having a pressure iluid actuated motor for operating it. The valve I9 is of the type which is normally biased to closed position, for example by means of a spring when the motor therefor is open to exhaust. For sake of completeness it is noted that it is intended to diagrammatically illustrate 'a diaphragm type of motor, which motor is provided with a pressure fluid supply and exhaust connection 24 which is attached to the valve I6 so as to communicate with the passage 38 as illustrated in Figure 3. Also in the line I8 at the input side of the inspirator is any suitable type of shut-off valve 30 and at the output side ofthe inspirator is a similar valve 2I. The inspirator is provided with an air intake connection which has a strainer 21 on the end thereof and a check valve 28 therein to prevent the escape of gas through this air inlet connection. A pipe connection 25 interconnects the line I8 at a point beyond the valve 2| with the port 39 of the valve I6. Pipe I8 is also connected on the input side of valve I9 by a pipe 22 which connects with the port 40 of valve I 6 and which line includes a pressure regulating or pressure reducing valve 23.

At this point it may be well to note that the connections 22, 24 and 25 may be of such a nature, preferably flexible so that they can withstand the turning movement of valve I6 which will be described later without danger of breakage.

The description of the operation of this system follows. It can be assumed as a practical value that the supplementary gas, propane or butane for example, is supplied from the auxiliary storage tank into line IB at a pressure of thirty pounds per square inch and upon passing through the reducing valve 23 is supplied to the line 22 at a pressure of fteen pounds per Vsquare inch. It will be further assumed that the parts are shown with the valve I6 in position shown in Figure 3, so that gas at fifteen pounds per square inch pressure is supplied through line 22 and passage 40 of valve I6 into chamber 36. From there it passes through passage 38 into line 24, the valve member 31 being in the position shown. Thus, gas at this same pressure is applied to the diaphragm of the motor of valve I9 so that it is open. The result is that gas at thirty pounds pressure per square inch is supplied to the inspirator 2l), from which the propane-air mixture passes into the main I 1, assuming valves 2I and 3|! are open. In other words, the system is illustrated in Figure 1 as in a condition where the upper section of the gas holder has fallen to the point where van additional supply of gas to the system and gas holder is necessary.

In other words, it can be assumed from this description that the gas works is operating at capacity but the demand on the gas system is so great that the movable sections of the gas holder have fallen toward a lower limit and the gas work is not supplying gas at a faster rate than it is being withdrawn from the system. The result is that the valve I9 is open and supplementary gas is being supplied to the system. As the supplementary gas moves through the inspirator it draws air into the system which isV admixed with the Supplementary gas. The inspirator is of course adjusted so that the resulting mixture will have the desired B. t. u. value. If supplementary gas is being supplied rapidly enough the movable sections of the gas holder will start upwardly and of course carry with them the bracket 4 5 and the weighted tube 6 supported thereon by the pins 'I. When the movable sections approach the upper limit of their movement the upper end of tube 6 will engage the collar I4 causing clockwise rotation of the lever I 0 by means of cable I2. Rotation of lever I Il will cause rotation of the valve housing I6 from the position shown to a position where the weighted-valve member 37 when it passes center will drop downto close the passage 40 and open the passage 39.

One feature of this system is the "on and off action of the valve I6 in that the valve member 3'! will move quickly to either of itsv positions as it passes a. center position. with. rotation. Theclosing of passage wandatheopening, of passage 33 will shut off thesupplyof gastotha motor of valveVy I9 through: the line 22 and will open the motor to exhaust through line 26, passage. 38,y chamber 36, around. valve member. 31, passage 33 and line 25 into. the gas4 main. In other words, when employing the supplementary gas itself to actuate the system in order toplievent the creation of a nre hazard it is desirable to exhaustvthe motor of valvev I9 into the: gas system rather than into theA atmosphere; I'fi the system were pneumatically operated, then of course the motor could exhaust directlyy to atmosphere. As soon` as the motor of valve. I3 is exhaustedy the spring of the valve will close. it cutting oiT the supply ofsupplementary gas to the gas system.

, When the system is again overloaded and theupper sections of the gasometer` descend, the bracket 1 5 will move downwardly and the Weighted sleeve 6 will travel with it as it issuspended therefrom by means of the pin 1. In view of the spacing between the collars I4 and I3 it is apparent that valve I6 will not be actuated until the weighted sleeve engages the collar I3. The spacing between these collars can be so adjusted as to prevent the introduction of supplementary gas into the system under normal operating conditions. In other words, these collars form what may be termed limited controls between which the collar 6 may travel under normal operating conditions, without actuating the control valve I 6. However, should the gasometer be exhausted beyond its normal lower limit the upper sections will descend far enough so that the weighted sleeve 6 will engage the collar. I3. Sleeve 6 must be heavy enough to overcome the resistance to movement of lever I0 and all of the parts connected thereto so that valve I6 will be l rotated to the position shown in Figure 3 and thereby actuate the auxiliary supply system as previously explained. In order to prevent breakage of the control cable I2 and connected parts the weighted sleeve 6 is not attached to the bracket 4-5 but is merely suspended, as explained, in an aperture thereof. Therefore, should the movable sections of the gasometer continue to descend even with the supplementary gas system operating the bracket 4 5 can continue to move downwardly as the weighted sleeve 6 then rests on the collar I3. This is desirable as the lever III is then at its other limit of movement and any strain on the cable I2 and attached parts would tend to break this mechanism if the sleeve 6 were not free to remain behind as the bracket 4--5 continues its downward movement.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that the details of the subject matter herein disclosed are capable of considerable variation without departure from the novel combination herein disclosed. I do not therefore desire to be limited to the single embodiment herein described but only as required by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas supply system comprising in combination a gasometer normally supplied from a gas generating source, said gasometer having a movable top section, a pipe system for supplying gas to and from said gasometer, an auxiliary gas supply line for said system including a control valve, means for actuating said valve, and mechanical connection from said means to said movable section whereby movement of said sec- 6 tion. inf one;y direction.; opens said: valve toj efeclf theintroduction off: gas toy said gasometerK and`v supply systemy when the" generating` source is; supplying: insuilicientgas to meet .the demand on said.. gasometer: and movement, in the other direction: closes saidf valve. when. the generating; source issuppl'yingsufiicientV gasto meet the de.- m'and' on. said gasometer;

2;.,In the. combination of claim 1,` said lastV means including a. lever for actuating `said valve, a cable'. connected tot. said lever to actuategiti and means' attached to said. movable section for causing movement-of said cable.

3;.In1 the combinationv of claim l, said last means including: ai cableactuated lever for operating said. valve, an arm attached tothe movable sectionof said gasometer-positioned to` move with respect:` to said cable and spaced members attached to'said cable for predetermining ati what positions of, said movablesection saidy cable is actuated.

4; In. the combinationA of claim 1, said last means including a cable, a lever actuated by said cable for operating said valve, an arm attached to the movable section of said gasometer, a weighted member surrounding said cable and supported on said arm and movable with respect thereto and a pair of collars attached to said cable so as to be engaged by said member.

5. In the combination of claim l, said auxiliary gas supply line having a normally closed pressure uid operated valve connected therein and means controlled by said control valve for controlling the supply of pressure uid to and exexhaust it therefrom.

6. In the combination of claim l, said auxiliary gas supply line being connected to said gas supply system, a valve connected in said line, a pressure fluid motor for operating said last valve, a pressure fluid supply connection from said line to said control valve and another connection from said control valve to the motor for supplying gas to the motor to operate it and for exhausting gas therefrom.

7. In the combination of claim l, said auxiliary gas supply line being connected to said gas supply system, a valve connected in said line, a pressure iiuid motor for operating said last valve, a pressure fluid supply connection from said line to said control valve, another connection from said control valve to the motor for supplying gas to the motor to operate it and for exhausting gas therefrom, and a connection from said control valve to said gas supply system for exhausting said motor actuating fluid into said gas supply system.

8. In the combination of claim l, said auxiliary gas supply line being connected to said gas supply system and including an inspirator and a pressure fluid actuated valve connected therein and means including a connection from said control valve to said pressure fluid actuated valve to supply pressure uid thereto and exhaust it therefrom.

9. In the combination of claim l, said auxiliary gas supply line having a pressure uid actuated valve therein and said control valve including a rotatably mounted housing having a pressure uid supply passage therein terminating in an internal port, a pressure fluid supply connection therein, and an exhaust passage therein, terminating in an internal port and a gravity actuated valve member for alternately sealing said internal ports whereby pressure uid is supplied to and exhausted from said pressure uid actuated valve for alternately sealing said-internal ports whereby pressure uid is supplied to and exhausted from said pressure fluid actuated valve for alternate positions of said valve housing.

10` A gas supply system comprising in combi nation a gasometer normally supplied from a gas generating source, said gasometer having a movable section, a pipe system for supplying gas to and from said gasometer, an auxiliary gas supply line for said system including a valve, means for actuating said valve, a pivotally mounted lever for actuating said means, a iixed guide pulley, a cable passing around said pulley and attached to said lever on opposite sides of its pivot, and means connected to the movable section of the gasometer and cooperating with saidv cable when actuated in opposite directions near the end of its movement in either direction to actuate said means to open and close said valve.

11. In the combination of claim 10, said auxiliary gas supply line including a pressure fluid motor for actuating said valve, a pipe connection from said auxiliary gas supply line to said motor, and a control Valve in said last pipe connection said lever actuating said control valve.

CHARLES MACSPORRAN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 400,176 Bell Mar. 26, 1880 853,487 Tuttle May 14, 1907 1,865,333 Pendry June 28, 1932 1,931,791 Dueringer Oct. 24, 1933 2,251,636 Robb Aug. 5, 1941 2,402,187 Siver June 18, 1946 2,402,522 Bucknam June 18, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 327,410 France Dec. 16, 1902 187,996 Germany Aug. 5, 1907 542,060 Germany Jan. 20, 1932 

1. A GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A GASOMETER NORMALLY SUPPLIED FROM A GAS GENERATING SOURCE, SAID GASOMETER HAVING A MOVABLE TOP SECTION, A PIPE SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING GAS TO AND FROM SAID GASOMETER, AN AUXILIARY GAS SUPPLY LINE FOR SAID SYSTEM INCLUDING A CONTROL VALVE, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID VALVE, AND MECHANICAL CONNECTION FROM SAID MEANS TO SAID MOVABLE SECTION WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID SECTION IN ONE DIRECTION OPENS SAID VALVE TO EFFECT THE INTRODUCTION OF GAS TO SAID GASOMETER AND SUPPLY SYSTEM WHEN THE GENERATING SOURCE IS SUPPLYING INSUFFICIENT GAS TO MEET THE DEMAND ON SAID GASOMETER AND MOVEMENT IN THE OTHER DIRECTION CLOSES SAID VALVE WHEN THE GENERATING SOURCE IS SUPPLYING SUFFICIENT GAS TO MEET THE DEMAND ON SAID GASOMETER. 